Newark and Sherwood

Newark and Sherwood's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Newark and Sherwood increased by 8.0%, from just over 106,000 to 115,000.

The addition of just over 8,500 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Newark and Sherwood was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Newark and Sherwood.

The percentage of households in Newark and Sherwood that rented privately increased from 7.2% in 2001 to 13% in 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Newark and Sherwood households that owner their home decreased from 74% to 71%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Newark and Sherwood increased by 5.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newark and Sherwood, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.4% to 5.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Newark and Sherwood decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Newark and Sherwood, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

In Newark and Sherwood, the proportion went up from 51% in 2001 to 53% in 2011, while across England it fell from 56% to 55%. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 53% to 52%.

The rate of unemployment in Newark and Sherwood increased from 3.1% to 3.6%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 8.8% to 9.8%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were employed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Newark and Sherwood working less than 16 hours increased from 1.8% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Newark and Sherwood increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newark and Sherwood, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Newark and Sherwood

The number of people in Newark and Sherwood from the White ethnic groups increased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just over 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Newark and Sherwood from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 620 in 2001 to just under 1,200 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.0%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 540 to just over 1,000 (from 0.5% to 0.9%).

About 500 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 270 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Newark and Sherwood remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Newark and Sherwood by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links